Consumer NZ has delivered a petition to parliament, with the backing of more than 21,000 New Zealanders. The petition calls for the introduction of repairability labels on household appliances and electronic devices.
The petition was handed over to Labour MP Hon Rachel Brooking, who is a spokesperson for Environment, Food Safety and Space.
“It’s not sustainable or cost effective to have to purchase a new item if the old one breaks” said Brooking.
“Our landfills are already stuffed with broken items that are unable to be fixed.”
Consumer NZ CEO Jon Duffy called on all Members of Parliament to recognise the urgent need for decisive legislative action to tackle the scale of our e-waste issue in his handover speech.
“New Zealanders are tired of replacing products due to minor faults, paying excessive fees for repairs, and being limited by where they can get products repaired,” Duffy said.
“Today, we are proud to present a petition on behalf of over 21,000 New Zealanders who want to see repairability labels on household appliances and electronic devices, so they can easily make informed purchasing decisions based on how long products will last and how repairable they are.”
Consumer has been investigating New Zealand’s “broken system” for decades. A 2022 investigationtracked the journey of small appliances which were returned to store with an easy-to-repair fault and found most ended up in landfill.
“We know New Zealanders want to see a shift towards a circular economy where products are built to last and repair is not just an option, but the norm,” said Duffy.
Labels and loopholes
Duffy reinforced his support for the Right to Repair Amendment Bill, which was recently pulled from the Members’ Bill Ballot, stating it’s a necessary step to address the loophole in the Consumer Guarantees Act that allows manufacturers to opt out of offering spare parts.
“Introducing repairability labels and passing the Right to Repair Amendment Bill would be a comprehensive approach to tackling the detrimental impacts of planned obsolescence. We need both,” he said.
New Zealand is the only country in the OECD without e-waste regulations
It’s estimated New Zealanders throw away nearly 100,000 tonnes of e-waste every year, yet there is no regulation to curtail the seemingly endless cycle of cut and chuck.
In Europe, where repairability scoring has been in use for several years, manufacturers must disclose information to their customers about how long they expect their products to last and how repairable those products are.
“Over time, the EU system will force manufacturers to lift their game or be ditched by customers seeking longer-lasting products. Being the only country in the OECD without e-waste regulation puts New Zealand at risk of becoming a magnet for poorly designed and cheaply made products.
“As the e-waste in landfill grows, the damage to the environment and human health increases. Unrepairable products cost consumers and the planet.
“For Aotearoa, it’s not a case of how, it must be a case of when.”
Notes:
Much like energy star ratings, Consumer NZ likens repairability labels to energy-star ratings, in that they help consumers make purchasing decisions based on how long products will last and how repairable they are.
The concept of a repairability label is not new. The French government successfully introduced repairability labels in 2021, making it mandatory for manufacturers of certain products to calculate and display a repair score.
About Consumer
Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.
